April 2014
Living the Church Year
Easter

Going to Mass at our parish on Easter Sunday is an energizing experience. The pews are packed, there is overflow seating in the narthex and many new faces intermingle with the usual parishioners. Friends and family join in along with newcomers and folks who might be coming back to the faith. We cram together, friends and strangers, to offer our thanks and praise – Alleluia, He has risen! The joy is palpable.

Throughout the year, it is easy to forget that we are an Easter people. We Catholics can sometimes seem like a stern and serious lot, but the Resurrection is at the very heart of who we are and what we believe. Living a Christian life means living a joyful life. While daily life is not always easy, Christ exemplifies joyful living even in the midst of challenges. In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11) May your parish ministry be blessed with Easter joy this season and beyond!

Blessings,
Heidi Busse

Easter eggs
A Real Easter “Egg”

In the gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is the first to bear witness to Christ’s resurrection on Easter morning. According to the ancient tradition of the East, after the Ascension, Mary then journeyed to Rome where she was admitted into the court of Tiberius Caesar. After describing how poorly Pilate had administered justice at Jesus’ trial, she told Caesar that Jesus had risen from the dead. To help explain the resurrection, she picked up an egg from the table. Caesar responded that a human being could no more rise from the dead than the egg in her hand turn red. The egg turned red immediately which is why red eggs have been exchanged at Easter for centuries in the Byzantine East.

Be sure to include some red eggs this Easter as a sign of Christ’s resurrection and Mary’s witness to the Risen Lord.

One Woman Brings Faith to the Faithless
Ever since Ukrainian-born Valentyna Pavsyukova found the Faith, she has worked to bring it to others
by Christopher Ruff
Pavsyukova

The story behind Chalice of Mercy exemplifies how God uses the little and the humble to do his work. Pavsyukova left her homeland for Medford, Wis., in 2002, at the age of 18. Her name had been picked in the U.S. Government Green Card Lottery in which her mother had entered her the year before without telling her.

Arriving in Medford with a cosmetology license but almost no English skills, Pavsyukova stayed with a Ukrainian couple and found her first job at Black River Industries, which provides employment and training for people with disabilities. The work immediately affected her.

Read the rest of the article from the April 6, 2014, issue of OSV Newsweekly

Getting to the Core
Common Core State Standards have made headlines across the country. How do they affect Catholic schools?
by Brian Fraga
school

For decades, public, private and Catholic schools have relied on standards to craft curriculum and measure student achievement. In several instances, Catholic schools have taken the states’ public school educational standards and adapted them to reflect their Catholic values.

“For our schools to not be aware of what the public school academic standards are, to not be familiar with where our students need to be, that would be irresponsible. In fact, I don’t think parents would expect us to not be aware of those things,” said Sister John Mary Fleming, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Catholic Education.

From the March 30, 2014, issue of OSV Newsweekly. Read it all here.

Are you ready?
canonization

Don’t miss Pope Francis’ Historic Canonization Event on April 27!

For the first time in history, Pope Francis will officially canonize two previous Popes – Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II at the same time. On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, the worldwide Church will join Pope Francis in prayer and celebration as we add two remarkable men to the “great cloud of witnesses.” Equip your parishioners with our all-new Two Servants, Two Saints pamphlet and a one-of-a-kind prayer card honoring each of these previous popes.

Order the pamphlet today!
Saint Pope John XXIII Prayer Card
Saint Pope John XXIII Prayer Card (Spanish)
Saint Pope John Paul II Prayer Card
Saint Pope John Paul II Prayer Card (Spanish)

Holy Week pamphlet

While the season of Lent is a very important time in the Church, it is helpful to remember that our Lenten practices (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) are meant as preparation for the three days of the Triduum.

Order today! Package of 50, $15.95
Also available in Spanish

April 4 - St. Isidore
April 13 - Palm Sunday
April 17 - Holy Thursday
April 18 - Good Friday
April 20 - Easter Sunday
April 25 - St. Mark
More about these saints and feasts

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